U.S. patent application number 11/216552 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for suction fixture.
Invention is credited to Chen Kuo Hsiung.
Application Number | 20060255218 11/216552 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35507718 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060255218 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsiung; Chen Kuo |
November 16, 2006 |
Suction fixture
Abstract
The invention is directed to a fixture assembly for connecting a
portable electronic product to a stationary object. The fixture
depends on suction for adhering the product in place. The fixture
includes a flexible supporting rod connecting the electronic
product to a suction device. The degree of suction is controlled by
a toggle switch acting through a connecting rod connected to a
suction piece that secures the product in place.
Inventors: |
Hsiung; Chen Kuo;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACK SHORE;MUCH SHELIST FREED DENENBERG AMENT&RUBENSTEIN,PC
191 N. WACKER DRIVE
SUITE 1800
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1615
US
|
Family ID: |
35507718 |
Appl. No.: |
11/216552 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/160 ;
248/205.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 11/02 20130101;
F16M 11/40 20130101; B60R 2011/0056 20130101; B60R 11/0241
20130101; F16M 13/022 20130101; B60R 2011/0091 20130101; F16M 13/00
20130101; B60R 11/0252 20130101; F16B 47/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/160 ;
248/205.5 |
International
Class: |
F16M 13/00 20060101
F16M013/00; F16B 47/00 20060101 F16B047/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2005 |
CN |
200520058216.X |
Claims
1. A suction fixture assembly for a portable electronic product
comprising a fixing base for supporting the electronic product; a
flexible supporting rod connected to the fixing base at one end
thereof and suction means connected to the other end for securing
the portable electronic product to a stationary object.
2. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 1 in which the suction
means includes a suction body, a suction piece to be connected to a
stationary object, a connecting rod extending through said suction
body and connected at one end to the suction piece and at its other
end to a toggle switch connected to said suction body for
controlling the amount of said suction piece to regulate the
suction securing the portable electronic product to a stationary
object.
3. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 2 in which the suction
piece is elastic in which the inner side is connected to said
suction body and the outer side is smooth for affixing the fixture
to a portable electronic product.
4. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 2 in which one end of
the connecting rod is adhered to said suction piece and its other
end is hinged to the toggle switch.
5. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 4 in which the toggle
switch defines a varying configuration on its outer surface which
is located at different distances from where the toggle switch is
hinged to the connecting rod whereby the suction force created by
the suction fixture is varied depending on the portion of the outer
surface of the toggle switch in contact with the suction body.
6. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 2 in which there is
provided a coaxial spring located about said connecting rod with
one end of the spring connected to the connecting rod and its other
end to the suction body to help restore the suction piece and
connecting rod to its normal position when the toggle switch is
released.
7. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 2 in which there are
separate suction means provided on opposite side of the supporting
rod and hinged thereto.
8. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 2 in which the flexible
supporting rod consists of a freely bendable internal rod and an
external sleeve with the internal rod socketed into the external
sleeve.
9. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 1 in which the fixing
base consists of a base body and a moveable clamping piece, the
said base body has a clamping flange and the said moveable clamping
piece is screwed together with the portable visual electronic
product, said moveable clamping piece includes a clamping block, at
its back through which the moveable clamping piece and base body
are clamped into the clamping flange.
10. A suction fixture as set forth in claim 9 in which the base
body also includes an elastic stopper located at one end of the
clamping flange.
Description
[0001] This application is based on a Chinese Application No.
200520058216.X filed May 12, 2005.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This new utility model is an assembly for affixing a
portable DVD to a stationery object, particularly one that employs
suction to hold it in place.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Portable visual electronic products are getting ever more
diversified, including such devices as a PDA, pocket TV and palmtop
audio visual recorder player (like MP4). These devices are light
and compact, have become very popular and have found wide
applications in various vehicles, such as automobiles, airplanes
and ships. Such units make our life more enjoyable either on trips
or at work. However, such products presently have to be held in our
hands. This is very inconvenient for extended use or when our hands
are needed for other purposes. In addition, the products may fall
out of our hands and get damaged. It is therefore necessary to
design a fixture assembly that can easily fix any portable visual
electronic product to a stationery support, especially on a moving
vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The purpose of this new fixture is to provide a simple,
reliable and easy to use fixture free from the present technical
defects. The fixture employs suction to hold the portable visual
electronic products in position.
[0005] The objective of this new fixture is achieved by the
following structure: The suction fixture is composed of a fixing
base for holding the portable electronic unit, a supporting rod and
a suction component. The suction component is connected to the
fixing base via the supporting rod.
[0006] The suction component includes a suction body suction piece,
connecting rod and toggle switch. The connecting rod passes through
the suction body and is connected to the suction piece at one end
and to the toggle switch at the other. The toggle switch is also
contact connected to the suction body. If the suction body is made
of soft materials (like rubber or plastic), a rigid piece (metal)
can be set between the toggle switch and the suction body to make
the contact surface with the toggle switch more rigid.
[0007] The suction body is concave and evenly edged. The elastic
suction piece has one side jointed to the suction body and the
other smooth side is applied against the object to which it is to
be connected.
[0008] The connecting rod can be embedded into or adhere to the
suction piece, and hinged to the toggle switch. Specifically, at
the adjoining ends of both the connecting rod and toggle switch are
holes, into which studs are inserted to connect the connecting rod
with the toggle switch.
[0009] The toggle switch has different configurations along its end
to be connected to the suction body. These configurations are
located at different distances from the hinging hole of the toggle
switch. By adjusting the different configurations of the toggle
switch to be contact connected to the suction body, it is possible
to change the position of the connecting rod relative to the toggle
switch. This adjusts the deformation extent of the suction piece,
and thus the suction force.
[0010] The connecting rod has a coaxial spring located inside the
suction body. The spring is contact connected at one end to the end
of the connecting rod (or suction piece) and its other end to the
inner side of the suction body. The spring helps restore the
suction piece and connecting rod.
[0011] The suction component may consist of one or more groups,
usually two groups, that are symmetrically set on opposite sides of
the supporting rod and can be hinged to each other at different
angles to fit with suction surfaces of different radians.
[0012] The supporting rod includes a freely bendable internal rod
and an external sleeve, with the internal rod socketed into the
external sleeve. The internal rod can be made of easily foldable
metal that can be bent and fixed as desired.
[0013] The fixing base consists of a base body and a movable
clamping piece. The base body has a clamping flange, and the
movable clamping piece is screwed together with the portable visual
electronic product. At the back of the movable clamping piece is a
clamping block, through which the movable clamping piece and base
body are clamped into the clamping flange.
[0014] The base body of the fixing base has an elastic stopper. The
stopper is located at one end of the clamping flange and can be
locked after the movable clamping piece is clamped into the
clamping base so as to prevent the portable visual electronic
product from slipping.
[0015] The suction fixture adheres firmly to a smooth surface (like
a wall or the glass of your car) through the suction component at
one end of the fixture. The portable visual electronic product is
connected to the fixing base at the other end of the suction
fixture. The supporting rod is then adjusted to give your portable
visual electronic product a desired visual angle.
[0016] This fixture is superior to the existing technologies in
that it is safe and can be used to fix your portable visual
electronic product stably and reliably to enable you to enjoy
programs without holding it with your hands. You no longer have to
worry about your visual product falling out of your hands.
Therefore, this novel device provides convenience and safety at the
same time. This suction fixture can adhere to a flat or arcuate
surface. It enables one to flexibly and easily adjust the visual
direction and angle of your visual products. It applies to common
vehicles like various automobiles. This device is applicable to
fixing all existing portable visual electronic products, such as
PDA, pocket TV, palmtop audio visual recorder player and portable
DVD players in a stable position in a moving vehicle.
[0017] To have a better understanding of the invention, reference
is made to the following detailed description of the invention,
from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the novel suction
fixture;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the suction
fixture shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a fixture as shown in FIG. 2 from another
angle; and
[0021] FIG. 4 shows the suction fixture of FIG. 1 in its use
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] This new fixture will be exemplified and illustrated in more
detail below, but it has more applications than provided here.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows the outline of the suction fixture. It may be
seen from FIG. 1 that the suction fixture is composed of fixing
base 1, supporting rod 2 and a suction component 3. The suction
component 3 is connected to the fixing base 1. The specific
structures of respective parts are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0024] From FIGS. 2 and 3 we can see that there are groups of
suction components 3, that are symmetrically set on the opposite
sides of the supporting rod 2. These groups are hinged to each
other via a stud 4 so they can be set at different angles to fit
with suction surfaces of different radians. Each suction component
group 3 includes a suction body 3-1, suction piece 3-2, connecting
rod 3-3, spring 3-4, and toggle switch 3-5. The connecting rod 3-3
passes through the suction body 3-1, and is connected to the
suction piece 3-2 at one end and to the toggle switch 3-5 at the
other. The toggle switch 3-5 is pivotally connected to the suction
body 3-1. The connecting rod 3-3 has a coaxial spring 3-4 that is
located inside the suction body 3-1. The spring 3-4 is
contact-connected at one end to the end of the connection rod 3-3
(or suction piece 3-2) and at its other end to the inner side of
the suction body 3-1. The spring 3-4 thus helps restore the suction
piece 3-2 and connecting rod 3-3 when the toggle switch is
released.
[0025] A rigid piece (metal) 3-6 is set between the toggle switch
3-5 and the suction body 3-1 and is concave and evenly edged. The
suction piece 3-2 is elastic, usually made of rubber or plastic,
with one side joined to the suction body 3-1 and the other smooth
side sucking the target object.
[0026] The connecting rod 3-3 is embedded into the suction body
3-1, and hinged to the toggle switch 3-5 at the adjoining ends of
both the connecting rod 3-3 and toggle switch 3-5. The toggle
switch 3-5 has different configurations at the end to be connected
to the suction body 3-1, and those configurations are at different
distances from the hinging hole of the toggle switch 3-5. Thus by
adjusting the different configurations of the toggle switch to be
connected to the suction body 3-1, it is possible to change the
position of the connecting rod 3-2 and thus adjust the deformation
extent of the suction piece 3-2, to adjust the suction force. The
supporting rod 2 includes a freely bendable internal rod 2-1 and an
external sleeve 2-2. The internal rod 2-1 can be made of easily
foldable metal that can be bent and fixed as desired. The fixing
base 1 consists of the base body 1-1 and a movable clamping piece
connected to the portable visual electronic product. (not shown in
the figures). The base body has a clamping flange 1-2, and the
movable clamping piece is screwed together with the portable visual
electronic product.
[0027] At the back of the movable clamping piece is a clamping
block (not shown), through which the movable clamping piece and
base body 1-1 are clamped into the clamping flange 1-2. The base
body 1-1 of the fixing base 1 has an elastic stopper 1-3, which is
located at one end of the clamping flange 1-2 and can be locked
after the movable clamping piece is clamped into the base body 1-1
so as to prevent the portable visual electronic product from
slipping.
[0028] The new suction fixture works as follows:
[0029] Fix one end of the suction component 3 of this suction
fixture to a smooth surfaced and the elastic suction piece 3-2 can
adhere to the target suction surface. Turn down the toggle switch
3-5 to overcome the action of the spring 3-4 and lift the
connecting rod 3-3. At the same time, the connecting rod 3-3 lifts
the elastic suction piece 3-2 connected to it, forming a vacuum
between the middle of the elastic suction piece 3-2 and the target
suction surface. In this way, the suction component 3 may adhere
firmly to the target surface. The portable visual electronic
product is fixed to the fixing base 1, and then one can adjust the
supporting rod 2 to give the portable visual electronic product a
desired visual angle, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0030] It is intended to cover by the appended claims all
embodiments and modifications that fall within the true spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *